So I decided I wanted to at least try the originals after playing 3.

I installed Fallout last night and got it running, the graphics, controls and everything else work fine, the sound however...

I can hear the in game music and environment noise but no SFX. No gunshots, no melee attacks, nothing! I'm running it on a Vista laptop at the moment, I've heard Vista has trouble running it but it is possible. Is anyone else trying to play this on Vista? Is it working for you or are you having the same problem...?

Also as an added question, if you've played all three Fallouts then which in your opinion is the best?

i like fallout 2 best. then fallout 1... then fallout tactics. and then fallout 3... since fallout brotherhood of steel was so... not very good.
if i were to rate them...
brotherhood of steel 60% fallout 3 70% tactics 85% fallout 1 92% and fallout 2 98%

edit: havent tried running it on vista.
but for fallout 1 i had to change the compatibility to run it in windows 95 mode, else i couldnt play it on xp.

It's almost definitely Vista that's the problem. A lot of software seems to have a problem with Vista.

Try running it in compatability mode/

Oh yeah that reminds me, I've tried it on compatibility for Win 95.

Edit : Sorry for the late addition.

All I can do is advise you to google it, these sorts of old games often have old patches to make them play nicer with new operating systems.

Where did you get it from? If you, say, "borrowed" it from someone, I'd advise maybe spending the 6 bucks to get it from here, because this site provides games for the new operating systems - this page lists the games for XP and Vista, and since neither one of those OSes existed when Fallout was released, I think it's a safe bet that they've managed to get them working reliably on those.

I haven't played Fallout 3 yet because I don't have an xbox and my computer just isn't powerful enough - it wasn't working very well for Oblivion, so I can't imagine how badly Fallout 3 will run. Of the others, the original Fallout is definitely the best.

The graphics and interface were clunky and lackluster even when the original two games were released, and age hasn't helped them any, but if you can get through that, you're going to find some truly fantastic games here. We are talking about a game in which there is so much choice that you can kill the final boss using your Charisma skills. I recognize that they're difficult to get into at first, but they are so incredibly worth it, you have no idea.

I have a Vista laptop too and it works fine, except that it won't play the intro. I would suggest using the Win 95 or 98 compatibility modes though. Haven't played more than a few minutes but from what I have seen, they look to be good games.

Try running it on compatibility mode AND run as admin. If that doesn't work, uninstall it a do the same process for the installation programs. Always works for me.

It's almost definitely Vista that's causing the problems, but out of interest, I'd like to know exactly how you installed it, because you may be able to do a manual install from the CD.

Also, as a Fallout veteran, I'd have to say that while I thought Fallout 2 was more fun, the original felt more cohesive, with a more refined story.

I wasn't very impressed by Fallout 3, I didn't think it was bad, I didn't think it was a Fallout game, and I don't consider it Oblivion with guns either. The first two from Black Isle {R.I.P.} were much deeper and better crafted games.

Try downloading Gametap and playing Fallout one and two on it for free. I am and it works great on both Vista and XP.

I really like Fallout 3 but also enjoy Fallout 1 and 2 to lesser extent. I don't like the earlier ones as much because I get tired of running out of action points and having to stand helplessly while monsters attack me. Otherwise, I love the story, dark humor and art direction of the earlier games.

I still think that Brotherhood of Steel was great, no matter what anyone says, lol

I mean, this song is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1fLeigCSbE

I rented it, thinking it would be lousy, but would be a decent game to play through with a friend of mine, and we had a TON of fun playing it.

Altorin:
I still think that Brotherhood of Steel was great, no matter what anyone says, lol

I mean, this song is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1fLeigCSbE

He does raise a brilliant point about that song.

Fallout 1 and 2 are great and very unique and with the right modding in Fallout 2, it can become even greater and in some peoples opinions, beat Fallout 3.

All the suggestions here are pretty solid. I don't have any to add.
I'm kinda disappointed by the amount of hate (or at least mild dislike) for Fallout 3.
I'm not going to say it's perfect, but it's the most fun I've had in a game since the year 2000. Also, when Bethesda releases the construction set, all kinds of awesome user created stuff will come out as well as whatever official expansions Bethesda has in mind.

I've played all three numbered games, and I don't think it's fair to compare Fallout 3 with 1 and 2. The differences are so drastic and noticable that they are essentially different games. I enjoyed Fallout 3 more, but that's because I like action in my games more than strategy.

As for your problem, I have no idea. I played the first two on Gametap and didn't have a problem, but that might have something to do with it being on Gametap.

First one, by far. Sure, the second one has a lot more to do, but it get's silly in a lot of places. The first one is awesome in every way. The story, the atmosphere, the characters. The second has most of it too, in most places, but then it just get's really silly at the end, and New Reno is just ridiculous. Tactics is pretty much awesome too. The third one, in my humble opinion, sucks, not becuase I love the first ones, it just does. It's a poorly balanced shooter that plays like a bad rpg, in a world that doesn't make sense filled with random npcs.

I enjoyed the second one far more than the first, mainly because that confounded time limit was gone. It sat there, leering at me. Taunting me. Saying "You won't do it fast enough..."

It really killed exploration for me. I always felt like I should be doing the main quest as fast as possible.

There was a time limit in the second one too, you just didn't know it was there. That was really fun when you were out exploring and ignoring the main quest, realised you had little time left when the last message came and started running back, and what happens? You get half-way there and then loses. Bullshit.

Fallout 1 and 2 are just so different from 3 that I can't say which one I like better. But out of 1 and 2, I think I like 1 the best - it was my introduction to the amazing Fallout universe, and I'll never forget it. Just something about being the original Vault Dweller is much better than being his son or grandson or whatever you were in 2. And that damn temple in the beginning of 2 certainly didn't endear me to it...

I really want to play the original Fallout. I downloaded Gametap so I could play it. About five computers and four different operating systems later, I started to doubt I could ever be able to make an account with them. Their tech support was about as helpful as a mouldy bannana; their suggestion boiled down to, 'We've tried to help, we can't figure out the problem, there couldn't possibly be anything wrong on our end, eat shit and die'.

I downloaded the demo. When I try to run it, my computer locks up, so that's nice.

Please help. If anyone knows how to sort out this crap with the demo, please send a PM.